Mechanism for discharging generally cylindrical articles from the bottom of a staggered stack thereof



Feb. 3, 1959 H, KELLER 2,872,071 MECHANISM FOR DISCHARGING GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES FROM THE BOTTOM OF A STAGGERED STACK THEREOF Filed Sept. 24, 1956 l] IP41 II II III INVENTOR.

f/ene/v L. A efler BY Arman/g.

United States Patent Herbert L. Keller, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,425 1 Claim. (Cl. 221-67) This invention relates to improvements in so-called staggered stack vending machines of the kind disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,369,882, issued to Brock, on February 20, 1945.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide improved means for actuating the article retaining and releasing member that is normally disposed below the two columns of articles to restrain both columns against downward movement.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide a vending machine employing the roller principle disclosed in Johnson, Nos. 2,585,011 and 2,585,012, together with improved means for reciprocating the roller as the same is guided along a rectilinear path of travel and supported separately from the said means for driving the same.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a roller assembly that is not only guided as aforementioned through the medium of a rack and pinion, but is supported throughout its path of travel to in turn support the columns of articles by horizontal rails underlying hubs integral with the pinions that are rigid to the roller shaft.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of article dispensing apparatus of the aforementioned character employing a swingable arm that is in turn supported by stationary pivot means and operably coupled with the said roller shaft for reciprocating the latter as the arm is swung.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel eccentric pin arrangement operably coupled with the arm for imparting swinging movement thereto.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of mechanism for discharging generally cylindrical articles from the bottom of a staggered stack thereof made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-H of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the mechanism in its normal stand-by position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 but showing the said mechanism at that end of its path of travel opposite to Figure 1.

Any suitable means may be provided for supporting and guiding articles of merchandise and adapted to receive two columns 12 and 14 thereof in staggered relationship to the end that when the lowermost article 10 of either column 12 or 14 is supported, both columns 12 and 14 are restrained against downward movement. Such supporting and guiding means chosen for illustra tion includes a pair of opposed channel members 16 and 18 having the legs thereof overlapping the ends of the horizontally disposed articlesv 10.

An elongated roller member 20 beneath the stacks 12 and 14 and spanning the distance between the bights of the channels 16 and. 18, is freely rotatable on an elongated, horizontally disposed shaft 22 that extends through elongated, horizontal slots 24 formed in side plates 26 suitably secured to the channels 16 and 18.

Each of the plates 26 is provided with an out-turned flange 28 at the lowermost end thereof, presenting a supporting shelf for a combined rack and rail means 30. Each of the elongated castings 30 includes a horizontal rail 32 and a toothed rack 34. Pinions 36 keyed or otherwise rigidly attached to the shaft 22, mesh with the racks 34 and each pinion 36 is provided with an integral hub 38 that rides along the corresponding rail 32.

It is understood that the entire weight of the articles 10 which is carried by the roller 20 is supported by the hubs 38 and rails 32 to the end that the pinions 36 ride in the racks 34 freely and without undue pressure or binding. By virtue of the fact that the pinions 36 are secured to the shaft 22 and mesh with corresponding racks 34, the shaft 22 and roller 20 are guided without undue twisting or binding whenever reciprocable movement is imparted to the shaft 22 at one end thereof.

An arm 40 extends upwardly from the shaft 22 and is provided with stationary horizontal pivot 44 to support the same. Arm 40 has an elongated, longitudinal slot 48 near the lowermost end thereof for loosely receiving the shaft 22.

Means for imparting swinging movement to the arm 40 includes an element 50 which may be in the nature of an ordinary disc secured to a horizontal rotatable shaft 52 carried by the proximal plate 26. The rotatable element 50 has an eccentric pin 54 extending through an elongated slot 56in the arm 40.

Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the element 50 and for illustrative purposes, there is shown a worm gear 58 rigid to the shaft 52in mesh with a worm 60 on a shaft 62 rotatably carried by the proximal plate 26. Chain and sprocket means or the like 64 connected with the shaft 62 may be operably coupled with a suitable prime mover (not shown). Manifestly, in an automatic vending machine with which the mechanism hereinabove described is to be used, coin-controlled means may be provided for controlling the said prime mover and, therefore, the vending of articles 10 singly to the purchaser.

It is to be preferred that the roller 20 be disposed intermediate the ends of its path of travel during standstill condition of the machine as shown in Fig. 3, supporting the lowermost article 10 of one of the stacks. Roller 20 is shown in Fig. 3 supporting the lowermost article 12a of stack 12 by virtue of the fact that the lowermost article 14a of stack 14 has just been vended as seen in Fig. 1.

When roller 20 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the article 12a will be vended as roller 20 moves beneath article 14b of stack 14. When roller 10 returns to the position shown in Fig. 3, it will still support the stacks 12 and 14 by virtue of its underlying relationship to the article 1411.

It is to be emphasized that relatively little force is required to impart rotative movement to the element 50 and, therefore, swinging movement to the arm 40 and thereby reciprocate roller 20 for the reason that the weight of the articles 10 is supported at all times by the rails 32 rather than by the arm 40 or any other part of the driving connection between the prime moverand the roller 20.

rotatable shaft having a roller rotatable thereon and adapted to alternately engage the columns to restrain both of the latter against downward movement; a pair of vertical, opposed plates adapted to be carried by the members adjacent corresponding ends of the shaft in perpendicular relationship thereto, said plates having elongated, horizontally aligned slots reciprocably receiving respective ends of the shaft; an elongated horizontal rail joined to each of the plates beneath the slot therein;

a horizontal rack integral with and extending the length of each of the rails respectively; a pinion rigidly secured to each end of the shaft and movably engaged with a proximal rack, said pinions having integral hubs resting on corresponding rails supporting the roller and cooperating with said racks to limit reciprocation of the roller to a rectilinear path of travel; a single, elongated arm extending upwardly from one end of the shaft adjacent to the vertical face of one of said plates; stationary pivot means on said vertical face of said one plate pivotally supporting the arm for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis parallel with the axes of rotation of the shaft and the roller, said aim being provided with an elongated, longitudinal slot at the lowermost end thereof reciprocably receiving the shaft; a disc rotatably mounted on said vertical face of said one plate inwardly of said arm and between said slot of the-plate and said stationary pivot means for rotation about an axis parallel with said axes; apin rigid to said disc adjacent the periphery thereof, eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, said arm having an elongated, longitudinal slot intermediate the ends thereof receiving the-pin; a spur gear connected to and in axial alignment with said disc; a horizontal shaft provided With a worm gear rotatably carried by said vertical face of said one plate, said'worm gear being operably coupled With said spur gear; and power operated chain and sprocket means operably connected to said shaft of the worm gear whereby the roller is reciprocated as the Worm gear and in turn the disc are rotated.

References Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,981 Du Grenier et al. July 13, 1943 2,468,819 Fry May 3, 1949 2,678,138 Edwards May 11, 1954 2,762,524 Johnson Sept. 11, 1956 

